As a former police officer with the D.C. police, I’ve seen the fallout of the “war on drugs” and tough-on-crime policies. I’ve seen firsthand the problems they cause in our communities, ranging from family destabilization to the heartbreak of someone facing addiction. After witnessing these ill effects, I believe the only way forward is decriminalization, effective harm reduction methods, drug education and record sealing. Decrim Poverty DC recently released a legislative proposal —the District of Columbia Drug Policy Reform Act (D.C. DPRA) — that would accomplish all of this.
Decrim Poverty DC’s legislative proposal would remove criminal penalties for personal-use drug possession and would invest in public health interventions.
